Slow travel has been on the rise for a while now. Taking it slow, letting everything come to you. Sometimes with a well-planned itinerary, other times with just a few vague ideas. One of my recent trips definitely falls into that latter category. Together with a fellow blogger, we decided to embark on a road trip through western Sweden. And we started at the docks of the DFDS line from Ghent to Gothenburg, also known as the Volvo ship.
DFDS Gent Göteborg
We met up one time in a small coffee shop in Antwerp and roughly sketched out our route. It quickly became clear that we would start and finish in Gothenburg. After all, it was DFDS that had invited us aboard a RoRo ship on one of their sailing routes, specifically the one between the DFDS terminal in Ghent and the port of Gothenburg. On a Roll-on Roll-off ship, all the cargo is driven on and off, in contrast to a container ship where everything is loaded with cranes. That’s about as far as the technical details go.
The Volvo Ship
In this case, you can take the concept of slow travel quite literally. The sailing time between the two ports is around 32 hours. The ship is primarily a cargo vessel, loaded with brand new Volvos, straight from the Ghent factory of the Swedish car brand, along with containers. However, during each crossing, there are also a limited number of cabins available for ‘regular’ passengers, with or without their car(*), motorcycle, or camper. It’s a truly unique experience.
DFDS Ghent-Gothenburg: Back to Basics
Don’t expect the decadent luxury you’d find on a cruise ship aboard a cargo vessel. The key word here is “basic.” The single cabin I had was spotless and equipped with a private bathroom featuring a toilet and shower. There was a comfortable bed, a sofa, a small table, and plenty of electrical outlets. You also don’t need to worry about bed linens or towels—they’re provided.
During the 1,050-kilometer journey, passengers can enjoy a generous breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a dining room specially set up for them. Coffee, tea, and fruit juices are available throughout the day, and all of this is included in the ticket price. In addition, there’s a small shop where you can buy snacks, beer, or toiletries at a fair price. There’s also a cozy common area with armchairs, a radio, television, and a selection of movies and board games.
Be prepared for a bit of a social detox, as there’s no Wi-Fi or mobile internet available on board. In my case, this resulted in six hours of sweating, shivering, and chills. Well, I suppose that’s part of the slow travel experience, right? On the bright side, it leaves plenty of time for a good book, a classic card game or a pre-downloaded Netflix marathon. So, be sure to plan ahead!
How our road trip through Sweden went can be read here on my blog, or you can already check it out on my Instagram feed.
If we can give you one tip, make sure to hop on the Amphibious Bus in Gothenburg. We had the time of our lives—it’s such a cool way to explore the city from the water.
Conclusion: Yay or Nay?
Personally, I found this way of traveling very enjoyable. Granted, if you’re planning a quick weekend trip to your favorite city, traveling by cargo ship might not be the best option in terms of timing. But if you have some extra time, want to try something different, and wouldn’t say no to a unique experience, then don’t hesitate—travel slow to Sweden.
Plus, it’s a much more eco-friendly option than flying, and you’ll avoid the traffic jams and toll roads that come with traveling by car.
Traveling from Ghent to Sweden by Cargo Ship: Practical Information
From the port of Ghent, you can sail to the Swedish city of Gothenburg six times a week with a DFDS cargo ship. There’s also a route from Ghent to Brevik in Norway. For more information on prices, schedules, or other inquiries about Gothenburg, you can visit this website.
Unfortunately, for safety reasons, children under the age of 14 are not allowed on board the cargo ship, and pets are not permitted either. The trip from Ghent to Gothenburg costs €241 per person, while 14 and 15-year-olds pay €126. This includes a comfortable double cabin with a shower and toilet, bed linens, all meals, and non-alcoholic beverages.
Please note that there is no Wi-Fi available on the ship. You can take your bicycle on board for free, while transporting a standard car will cost approximately €213. Transporting a motorcycle costs €92. For more information, you can contact the call center at +32(9)2691269.
(*) Update (October 2024): It is currently no longer possible to book a trip without a motorized vehicle.
With an additional fee, you can take your car on board, but we went on foot and rented a car in Gothenburg (a Volvo, what else?). The quickest way to reach the terminal from Gent-Dampoort station is by taxi (around 15 minutes, costing about €30). Once we arrived in Gothenburg, the port taxi took us from the ship to the terminal, where we called an Uber to take us to our hotel.
For a trip to Sweden, you only need your identity card. Payments are made in Swedish kronor, not euros.
